Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Do you still own/use your first big game rifle?

Naturally, there is a lot of talk about the latest and greatest rifles and cartridges on the board. As I was reading some threads, it got me thinking about my first BG rifle. Despite all the new stuff that's come along, I still use a 303. I shot the barrel out of an ancient WW1 No1 Mk 3. It was replaced with another surplus 303 which I still own and use.

Does anyone still use and reload their first rifle as their primary?

Nope. It was a Ruger M77 7mm Mag I bought new in 1976. I replaced it with a Ruger UL 308 Win.

Nope. I don't have any of the centerfires I had 20 years ago. Always been a bit of a wheeler dealer with guns. I either don't get them to shoot and trade them off, or I do get them to shoot and get bored after a while, and trade them off. Not near to the extent that I used to, though.

I took my first few rifle deer with a Ruger 96/44. It kicked like a mule compared to any other 44 rifle I've shot before or since, and it was about a pie tin shooter at 100yds, so I moved onto better things after a couple seasons hunting with it.

My first deer rifle was a No.4 Mk.1, 303 British, given to me in 1970 by my new bride. I used it for a few years and then bought a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. The 35 i still have, the 303 is long gone. However, my first "real" deer rifle, the one I've killed more deer with than all others combined, is a Remington 700 Classic 270 Winchester. I still have it too.

Yes!
Remington 700 Enhanced SS DM 25-06. I don’t use it exclusively, but I end up taking it a few days a year. It is on its third different stock and 6th (I think?) scope now. It has been a tack driver since o bought it.

My first game rifle no longer had rifling for maybe 4” in front of the chamber. I traded in for a rifle I still have.

Own, Yes. Use, rarely, but that will change. 1952 Winchester 70 FWT in .308. It's very accurate, but has a slow barrel. I've killed a good number of deer with that rifle, and it's got a lot of sentimental value. Won't ever sell it, took my screen name from it.

Old70

Yes I still hunt with mine, but it's not my primary hunting rifle. My Pop bought the 32 win special used 1914 and gave it to me when I was 8. Been killing deer regularly since then with it.

Yes, my Remington 700 BDL LH in 270 Winchester made in 1977. Now has a B&C stock, Timney trigger, Leupold 4.5x14 scope in Talleys. Stock has been bedded, barrel free floated, and muzzle recrowned.

It shoots well with 110 grn TTSX's with H4350 at 3250 fps, and 150 grn Partitions with RL-26 at 2950 fps.

Sorta! I bought a Win. Model 88, 308 Win when I was 14 (1967). I had it until a few years ago, when I gave it to my son! I hadn’t used it since 1982, when I retired it! memtb

I bought my first rifle, a pre-war Model 70 .30-06 in 1964 when I was fifteen. It had a bore somewhat speckled, probably from shooting corrosive ammo and not being cleaned properly. It nevertheless shot fairly well, but in 1965 I had it rebarreled with a Douglas 26" heavy sporter barrel for the then popular .25-06 wildcat. It was the only hunting rifle I had for about ten years and it was fired a good bit. I continue to shoot it occasionally. After at least a couple of thousand rounds and some throat wear, it's still accurate.

I still have them both. I rarely use them. I did take my pre64 3006 to Canada but i won't fly with it

No. First was an eighteen dollar 303. It's gone. Second was a new in box Model 600 Rem in 6mm about 1964. Still have that one.

Yes, the ol' 270. 700 BDL I bought in 1972. The last 15 years or so it has carried a Pac-Nor barrel in a B&C Alaskan stock. Haven't used it as much in a while since getting on a 250 and 257 kick. I did take a doe with it last fall just to keep it from getting too depressed.

Still have but haven't shot in years. M94 30-30 made in the late 20's. My grandfather gave it to me around 1963 when I started deer hunting.

Pay no attention to that Garand.

Sure do. Rem 721 30-06 first deer & many many hogs.

Yes, it is a Stevens double 12 gauge. I killed a half dozen deer and doves with it. I bought it at a Globe store on North Shepard Drive in Houston, 1969. I’ll dig it out, get a pic of the old thing. I still shoot crows with it. I paid 60.00 new. Ain’t a rifle, but it was my first gun.

No but my nephew has it. Marlin 30-30. I still have and use my second acquired a year later at 15, Remington 760 30-06.

Some. My first was my dad's 32. But at that time I only borrowed it. My first rifle of my own was a .30-06 that was my grandfathers. A model 54. I have both and use them from time to time.

Yes.

A 1970 M94 Winchester in .30-30 that I'd saved paper route money for. It'll see a couple days a year afield and seems to bring good luck.